Fishing enthusiasts at Henry Hagg Lake near Forest Grove and Detroit Lake in Marion County have a chance of catching a fish worth $1 million.
Tagged fish have been released into 65 bodies of water across the country as part of a contest to get people excited about fishing. Hagg Lake received 15 tagged bass ranging from 2-5 pounds, while Detroit Lake received 12 3-pound rainbow trout.
Good news for anglers near Wallowa Lake! The world-record-sized kokanee fish you saw last season are said to happen again this year, due mainly to a natural disaster that led to fewer fish competing for food.
Kokanee fish will continue to do well in Wallowa Lake
Fishing enthusiasts who enjoy catching salmon and steelhead from the Columbia River will be getting a polite request from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife next year: “Please stop using barbs.”
Using barbless hooks can help protect wild salmon in the Columbia River. Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Are you a hunting, fishing, or outdoor enthusiast? Do you live in the State of Washington? Do you get really excited about helping preserve your state’s amazing fish and wildlife? Well, then the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to hear from you!
According to a press release, the WDFW will begin accepting grant applications on Dec. 1 for volunteer-based projects aimed at benefiting the state’s population of fish and wildlife. The grants will be funded by the Aquatic Land Enhancement Account and will provide reimbursement for volunteer projects that work towards the conservation of fish and wildlife or promote public enjoyment of the state’s native species. Both organizations and individuals are encouraged to apply.
Bittersweet news, Roseburg-area anglers! Rock Creek Hatchery, located east of I-5 between Roseburg and Sutherlin, is closing! According to a press release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Rock Creek Hatchery will be closed to the public through February 2011 due to the construction of a fish ladder.
Oregon coho migration in the fall of 2009 - Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
On May 1, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife implemented a liberalized trout bag limit for Thief Valley Reservoir. Well, they take it back.
The liberalized bag limit was put into place because wildlife officials expected low reservoir levels during the summer. Low water levels mean less room for trout to swim, and an overcrowded lake or reservoir can do serious damage to the trout’s ecosystem. Those reservoir level estimates came before the weeks and weeks of rain the Northwest experienced recently, so on June 11 the ODFW raised the bag limit back to the regular limit of five per day, with an 8-inch minimum length.
If you think government agencies are nothing more than groups of bureaucratic layabouts, think again! The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has been busy recently dealing with very important matters affecting the Northwest’s outdoor enthusiasts. Here are just a few of the goings-on from a recent WDFW 4 meeting:
Wildlife damage response
After a year of working with citizen groups and landowners, the WDFW has adopted new rules addressing property and livestock damage caused by local wildlife. Some of the changes include dropping a $500 deductible on small claims, reducing the minimum amount for livestock claims to $500, and dropping the requirement that hunting be used as a way to deal with livestock depredation problems. The new rules will be posted on the WDFW website.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently released a new pamphlet titled “Frogs are Cool: Facts About Frogs for Kids,” an informative and fun flyer aimed at raising awareness of the many endangered and sensitive species of frogs native to Oregon.
There are 16 species of frogs native to Oregon, and many are recognized as Oregon State Sensitive species, meaning they have small or declining populations. ODFW hopes the new frog awareness campaign will help kids and adults alike recognize and protect the protected species.
